One Studio Fits All

It's been so long since I posted. I was on vacation last week and we've been generally busy, but really, time isn't the problem. It's more of a lack of direction. I've been toying with the idea of doing two blogs, one for cards and one for my art, but when it came right down to it, that idea stopped me cold. So back to the one blog for everything. Just like my real studio, which is packed to overflowing with supplies for all the different things I do, this blog will be for everything. There. That feels better already!

So what have I been working on, you ask? I've got several projects going (I always do), and today I'll show you a couple that I've actually finished.

I mentioned awhile back that I had become a member of the Technique Junkies Design Team, and since the October newsletter has been mailed and is also available online, I can start sharing the cards I made with you. The two I'm sharing today were published in the hard-copy version of the newsletter.

The first card uses a technique called Puzzle Layers.  The image is from Twisted Papers, and I colored it with Copic markers.  I didn't color the entire image three times, just the parts I needed, but I will admit that this one took some time to do.

My second card was much quicker to make.  The technique is called By the Inch, and it's a great way to use up leftover technique sheets.  I started off with a sheet I made using the Antique Wallpaper technique from the June 2010 newsletter.  The stamps I used are from I Brake for Stamps.



It's going to be a nasty, rainy day here today so I plan to spend it in my studio.  I'm not sure which project I'll decide to work on, but I'll be in there doing something, and I promise I'll have more to share soon!

Have a great day!

Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge 36

It's time for the second September Divine Diva challenge already?  Time seems to move in hyper-drive since I stopped working.  Maybe it's true that time really does fly when you're having fun.  Who knew?

Speaking of fun, this book cover was our inspiration this time.  I already had my DoodleFactory Backlit Blooms stamps out on my table, so naturally, I used those.  This is the poppies stamp, and I just covered up the poppies with a couple of big Prima flowers.  I didn't have two flowers in the color I wanted, so I airbrushed them with Copic markers.  At 5 inches by 7 inches, this card is a bit bigger than I usually make, and I have to say, I like the bigger format.

Be sure to check out the cards made by all the Divine Divas for this challenge!

Lori
Anne
Chris
Julie
Kerri

Hope you are inspired to come and play along. Just leave a comment on Lori's blog with a link to your card. We can't wait to see what you create! The keyword for uploading on online forums will be DDIC36.  Have fun and look for the next challenge on October 7th.

Craft Season has Begun!

It's after Labor Day, the weather has turned cooler, and the days are shorter.  All of these things signal the beginning of Craft Season, which almost immediately turns into Holiday Craft season.  All of a sudden, it doesn't seem to early to start working on Christmas cards, and here's my first one. 

I used the DoodleFactory Backlit Blooms Poinsettia and sentiment from Starving Artistamps.  The poinsettia is stamped with Copic markers.  Yes, you can do that!  The instructions can be found in the June/July 2010 issue of the Technique Junkies Newsletter.

Starving Artistamps has a whole slew of new stamps out besides these gorgeous blooms.  Best of all, Tracey is giving away some of the new stamps as blog candy all month on the company blog.  Check it out and spread the word!

Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge 35

It's the first Thursday in September, and that means it's time for a Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge.

The photo Lori chose for us this time is a page from a Sundance Catalog.  I just love all the character in that wooden chest, so I tried to duplicate that in my background panel.  There's lots of stamping, sponging, embossing, sanding, and stamping again on there.  In real life, it really does have quite a bit of depth and character.  Too bad my photo skills aren't good enough to show you!

The flower image I used in a new DoodleFactory Backlit Bloom from Starving Artistamps.  I stamped the flowers with Fluid Chalk ink onto a piece of light aqua paper.  The paper has a beautiful fabric texture, and the chalk ink works really well to show off all that texture.

Kerri couldn't join us today, but be sure to check out the cards made by all the Divine Divas for this challenge!

Lori
Anne
Chris
Julie

Hope you are inspired to come and play along. Just leave a comment on Lori's blog with a link to your card. We can't wait to see what you create! The keyword for uploading on online forums will be DDIC35. Have fun and look for the next challenge on September 16!

Where did the week go?

I've been so busy since I left my job that I don't know how I ever had time to work!  It's been an entire week since I posted on my blog, and here I was thinking that I would be able to post more often. 

To add to my time management issues, most of the stamping I've done in the past couple of weeks has been of the top-secret variety.  I did do one card that I can share with you, though...

I used a great tutorial from the latest Technique Junkies Newsletter called Splash-n-Stick (Pat has an awesome subscription special on her blog right now), which is a great way to use some of the Magenta Peel-Offs stickers that I can't seem to stop buying.  The papers are from a Basic Grey Boxer 6x6 pad.

Thanks for stopping by my studio today!

Divine Diva Inspiration Challenge 34

I can't believe it's already time for another Divine Diva challenge!  This time, Lori chose a magazine ad for Lindt chocolate.  I had lots of ideas for this one and ultimately settled on replicating look of the journal.  I loved the colors, and besides, I have LOTS of buttons!

Lindt chocolate magazine ad.

All of the papers I used came out of my scrap pile--Yay!  I just taped the pieces together from the back and then cut my panel so that the seams fell at 30 and 60 degree angles.  The stamps I used are old favorites from Inkadinkado and the cupcake is colored with Copic markers.

Be sure to check out the cards made by all the Divine Divas for this challenge!


Lori
Anne
Chris
Julie
Kerri

Hope you are inspired to come and play along. Just leave a comment on Lori's blog with a link to your card. We can't wait to see what you create! The keyword for uploading on online forums will be DDIC34. Have fun and look for the next challenge on September 2!

More News

I got a note from Pat Huntoon last week asking if I was interested in joining the Technique Junkies Design Team.  Heck yes!  So I'm happy to announce that I'll be contributing to the newsletters starting with the October/November 2010 issue.  I'm so excited--thanks, Pat!

Today happens to be Try That Technique Thursday at Technique Junkies so I thought I'd play along.  The featured technique this week is Gated Tags from the February/March 2008 newsletter.  I don't usually make these special fold cards, but I have to admit, they are fun.

 

All of the stamps I used for this are from Starving Artistamps.  Since there is so much going on with the card itself, I kept the stamping and coloring simple.  The images are stamped in various shades of chalk ink, and the lighthouses are colored with Prismacolor pencils.

Thanks for stopping by!